The Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators meet Thursday in NHL action at the Canadian Tire Centre. Here’s a Senators vs Penguins Prediction. This article will include a Senators vs Penguins Pick.
Pittsburgh Penguins Betting Preview
The Pittsburgh Penguins lost to the Oilers and Mammoth, and they play the Habs next. The Penguins have lost 6 straight games.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are averaging 3.22 goals per game and are scoring 31.1 percent of their power play opportunities. Sidney Crosby leads Pittsburgh with 19 goals, Evgeni Malkin has 22 assists, and Bryan Rust has 78 shots on goal. Defensively, the Pittsburgh Penguins are allowing 3.03 goals per game and are killing 81.6 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Arturs Silovs has allowed 42 goals on 382 shots faced, while Tristan Jarry has given up 36 goals on 396 shots.
Ottawa Senators Betting Preview
The Ottawa Senators lost to the Wild, beat the Jets, and they play the Blackhawks next. The Senators have lost 7 of their last 11 games.
The Ottawa Senators are averaging 3.06 goals per game and are scoring 25.5 percent of their power play opportunities. Tim Stutzle leads Ottawa with 15 goals, Jake Sanderson has 19 assists and Dylan Cozens has 74 shots on goal. Defensively, the Ottawa Senators are allowing 3.25 goals per game and are killing 70.5 percent of their opponent’s power plays. Linus Ullmark has allowed 73 goals on 603 shots faced, while Leevi Merilainen has given up 26 goals on 211 shots.
Why the Ottawa Senators will win
- The Penguins have lost each of their last six games.
- The Senators have won seven of their last eight home games against the Penguins.
- The Penguins have failed to cover the puck line in each of their last four games at Canadian Tire Centre following a loss.
- The Senators have covered the puck line in each of their last three games.
- The Senators have won the second period in each of their last six night games following an overtime win.
Why the Pittsburgh Penguins will win
- The Senators have lost each of their last four games as home favorites.
- The Penguins have won each of their last six Thursday games as underdogs.
- The Penguins have covered the puck line in each of their last nine road games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The Senators have failed to cover the puck line in 14 of their last 16 home games against Metropolitan Division opponents.
- The Senators have lost the second period in seven of their last eight games when leading after the first period.
Total Goals Facts
- Each of the Penguins’ last seven road games against Atlantic Division opponents have gone OVER the total goals line.
- Each of the Senators’ last six games against the Penguins following a road win have gone UNDER the total goals line.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 1′ market has hit in each of the Senators’ last six games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- The ‘Over 1.5 Goals Period 3′ market has hit in each of the Penguins’ last eight games following a loss.
Ottawa Senators Player Prop Facts
- Claude Giroux has recorded at least one assist in each of his last 12 home appearances against the Penguins.
- Drake Batherson has scored at least one goal in each of the Senators’ last four games against Eastern Conference opponents.
- Claude Giroux has recorded at least one point in each of his last 12 home appearances against the Penguins.
- Nick Cousins has recorded a career faceoff win percentage of 56.5% against the Penguins (min. 5 faceoffs) – most against any opponent (including playoffs).
Pittsburgh Penguins Player Prop Facts
- Bryan Rust has scored a goal in each of the Penguins’ last four games.
- Rickard Rakell has recorded an assist in each of his last five appearances with the Penguins as underdogs.
- Rickard Rakell has recorded at least one point in each of his last six appearances with the Penguins as underdogs.
- Bryan Rust has scored a goal in each of his last four appearances – equal-longest active streak in the league.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Ottawa Senators rank 31st in the league in penalty kill percentage this season (70.45%).
- The Ottawa Senators rank 6th in the league in power play percentage this season (25.49%).
- The Pittsburgh Penguins rank 3rd in the league in power play percentage this season (31.11%).
- The Pittsburgh Penguins rank 8th in the league for goals per game this season (3.22).
Senators vs Penguins Prediction
The Senators are going to be favored at home against a team that hasn’t won a game in two weeks. The Senators have also won 7 of the last 10 games against the Penguins. However, let’s not act like the Senators are lighting the world on fire themselves.
Also, the Penguins have earned points in 7 of their last 10 games so while they’re not finishing games and getting full points, they’re still competing and have been close. Eventually a puck will bounce their way and that creates value in the underdog spot. Give me the Penguins and the plus money on Thursday night.